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Fired DCI agent talks about lawsuit against 3 officials

A fired criminal investigator files a lawsuit against Iowa Department of Public Safety officials.

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Updated: 6:20 PM CDT Aug 8, 2013

Fired DCI agent talks about lawsuit against 3 officials

A fired criminal investigator files a lawsuit against Iowa Department of Public Safety officials.

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Updated: 6:20 PM CDT Aug 8, 2013

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WEBVTT C1 3 He says he was fired for being a whistle blower! Former DCI Agent Larry Hedlund filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the state today. KCCI's Laura Nichols has all the details! In this 14 page lawsuit Hedlund lists several incidents where he clashed with his supervisors after questioning them. But he says the real reason he was fired is because he reported the Governor's speeding SUV. IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL ON MY FAMILY, AND MYSELF PERSONALLY. In a press conference Thursday afternoon with his tearful wife and his attorney by his side, Larry Hedlund announced that he is suing the state for wrongful termination. WE THINK THE LAWSUIT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE WHOLE TRUTH. Hedlund, a 25 year veteran of the DCI, was fired in July after some of his superiors at the Department of Public Safety accused him of disrespectful conduct and insubordination. In this 14 page lawsuit -- Hedlund names DCI Commissioner Brian London, DCI Director Charis Paulson, and DCI Assistant Director Gerard Meyers. I THINK SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONFUSED LEADERSHIP AND DICTATORSHIP, AND IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE PERSON IN CHARGE THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TARGET ON YOUR BACK. Hedlund says the target on his back emerged when he started questioning the competency and practices of some of his DCI superiors. But the straw that broke the camel's back, says Hedlund, was when he reported the Governor's speeding SUV along highway 20 on April 26th. In an email to Commission London Hedlund wrote "I don't believe the Governor of the State of Iowa is above the laws of the State of Iowa." Two days later -- Hedlund says he was placed on administrative leave. CLEARLY I FEEL I WAS WRONGED. I WAS ATTACKED FOR DOING MY JOB. In a July 18th press conference -- Governor Branstad adamantly denied that the speeding SUV incident was the reason for Hedlund's firing. Branstad then appointed a third party to do an independent investigation. Hedlund and his attorney say that investigation won't affect their lawsuit. A lawsuit, they say, that isn't about getting even. Hedlund says it's about trying to restore his reputation. THEY'VE DESTROYED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES A CAREER THAT I SPENT CLOSE TO 30 YEARS BUILDING AND A REPUTATION THAT I SPENT BUILDING. I reached out to DPS officials today -- I was told to call the agency's attorney -- I left messages with him, but did not hear back before news time. In addition to the lawsuit -- Hedlund and his attorney have filed an injunction regarding Hedlund's 500 page personnel report. They say Governor Branstad violated the law when he handed it over to Justice Lavorato for the independent investigation. I contacted the Governor's office today -- they said Lovarato signed a confidentially agreement and it was important for him to have access to any and all materials he requested to allow him to conduct his independent review. Laura, Hedlund also said today he plans to sue Governor Branstad? Yes, he says he eventually plans to sue the Governor for defamation for comments the Governor made during his press conference when he called Hedlund's firing "fair and just." The Governor's office did not want to comment on a potential lawsuit.

Fired DCI agent talks about lawsuit against 3 officials

A fired criminal investigator files a lawsuit against Iowa Department of Public Safety officials.